Self-soaping washboard



Patented 1an. i7, |899.

A. J. WILLIAMS.

lSELF SOAPING WASHBOARD.

(Application filed Dec. 10, 1897.)

(No Model.)

UNiTnD 'STATES ATENT Prion.'

ALBERT J. VILLIAMS, OF FULTON, NEl/V YORK.

SELF-SOAPING WASHBOARD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 617,791, dated January 17, 1899.

Application led December 10,1897. Serial No. 661,453. (No model.)

T0 all wiz/0m it 71mg/ concer-71,:

Be it known that I, ALBERT J. WILLIAMS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Fulton, in the county of Oswego and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Self-Soaping Vas'hboard, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to improvements in washboards.

The object of the present invention is to improve the construction of Washboards and to provide simple, inexpensive, and efficient means for holding a cake of soap and exposing it adjacent to the rubbing-surface of the washboard, whereby the operator will be enabled without ceasing the rubbing operation to soap the clothes with both hands to the desired extent.

A further object of the invention is to enable the weight ofithe washboard and the pressure `exerted thereon during the operation of washing to be utilized for advancing the soap as the same is worn away.

The invention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

In the drawings, Figure l is a front elevation of a washboard constructed in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the rear face of the same. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional View. Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view on line 4 4-of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a detail View illustrating the manner of securing the springs to the soap-supporting board or plate.

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in the several figures of the drawings.

1 designates a washboard provided above its rubbing-surface 2 with an opening 3, adapted to receive a cake of soap, as clearly illustrated in Fig. 3 of the accompanying drawings, and the forward movement of the soap is limited by vertical rods 4, extending across the soap-opening and preferably constructed of stout wire. The soap-opening is rectangular, and the terminals of the vertical rods are passed through the washboard and clenched together at the back of the same.

The soap is supported by a rectangular board or plate 5, arranged on the rear face of the washboard, extending substantially across the same and from the top thereof to the upper edge of the rubbing-surface. The

soap-supporting board, which is adapted to shed water and direct the same into the tub or other receptacle, is provided opposite the soap-opening With an enlargement 6, adapted to extend into the same and force a piece of soap outward against the bars, so that the soap may be used until it is worn very thin. The springs 7 for pressing the soap-supporting board against the soap extend longitudinally of the side bars of the frame of the washboard and are secured to the inner faces of the same by staples S and by embedding the lower ends 9 in the side bars. The staples 8 are located below the center of the rods, and the latter are provided at their tops With oblong loops l0, which are secured to vertical cleats 1l of the soap-supporting board. The cleats, Which are secured to the outer face of the soap-supporting board, extend below the same and are provided at their upper portions with transverse grooves 12, in which the upper ends of the loops are secured by staples 13 or other suitable fasteningdevices. The lower ends 14 of the loops are arranged in transverse perforations 15 of the cleats, near the lower ends thereof; but instead of constructing the springs of separate pieces of wire, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, they can be made of a single piece of material.

The invention has the following advantages: The device is exceedingly simple and inexpensive in construction and it obviates the necessity of handling soap during the operation of washing. The soap is supported adjacent to the rubbing-surface of the Washboard in convenient position so that the operator may apply the clothes to the soap with both hands Without ceasing the rubbing operation, and soap may be used in this manner longer than when applied by hand, as it may be worn into a very thin strip by the soapv IOO upper edge thereof, so that the weight of the board and the pressure exerted on the rubbing-surface thereof will operate to advance the soap as the same becomes worn. Also the soap-supporting board is adapted to shed the Water passing through the soap-opening in applying clothes to the soap and it will direct such Water back in to the tub.

Changes in the form, proportion, and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of this invention. That I claim is-- 1. The combination of a washboard provided with an opening adapted to receive a cake of soap, means for limiting the forwardA movement of the soap, and a soap-supporting board bearing against the soapand projecting rearwardly beyond the washboard and arranged to rest upon the tub when the Washboard is i'n use, whereby the weight of the board and the pressure on the saine will be utilized to force the soap outward, substantially as described.

2. The combination of a washboard having a soap-opening, means for limiting the forward or outward movement of the cake of soap, and a spring-actuated soap-supporting plate or board arranged at the back of the washboard, covering and extending beyond the soap-opening and adapted to shed water and direct the same back to a tub, said soapsupporting board being provided on its inner or front face with an enlargement arranged to project into the soap-opening and engage the soap, substantially as described.

3. The combination of a washboard provided With a soap-opening, a soap-supporting board or plate arranged on the rear face of the board and extending over the opening, vertical cleats secured to the soap-supporting plate or board, depending below the same and adapted to rest against a tub at the top thereof, and the longitudinal springs secured at their lower ends to the washboard and provided at their upper portions with oblong loops mounted on the cleats, substantially as described.`

4. The combination of a washboard having a soap-opening, a soap-supporting plate or board arranged at the back of the washboard, cleats secured to the same, provided at their upper portions with transverse grooves, and having transverse perforations at their lower ends, and the springs mounted on the washboard and provided at their upper ends with oblong loops secured at their tops in the grooves and having their bottoms arranged in the transverse perforations, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

ALBERT J.' wiLLiAMs.

IVitnesses:

II. Il. KnNDRroK, F. KnNDRIcK. 

